Ring puzzle



Aug. 3, 1965 l. H. RINGSTAD RING PUZZLE Filed NOV. 16, 1961 Ingval H. Ringsfad INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ingval H. Ringstad, 41% W. 42nd St, Sioux Falls, Dak.

Filed Nov. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 152,855 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-158) The present invention generally relates to a puzzle or amusement device and more particularly a puzzle of the type including a plurality of rings mounted on a base member together with a closed loop member for movement in relation to the rings whereby the solution of the puzzle requires movement of the loop and rings in a particular manner.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a multiple wire ring puzzle and a sliding elongated closed loop for movement in relation to the rings whereby the loop may be connected with the rings in a particular manner or detached therefrom by proper manipulation whereby a certain degree of manual dexterity is required and the solution to the puzzle is highly interesting and intriguing thus producing a highly desirable puzzle of this type.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wire ring puzzle which is relatively simple in construction, rather difiicult and intriguing in its solution and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the puzzle of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating one position of the wire loop in relation to the ring; and

FIGURES 37 inclusive are detailed sectional views illustrating various relationships of the wire rings and loop during manipulation of the loop and rings when solving the puzzle.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the wire ring puzzle of the present invention which includes a base member 12 which may be of any suitable configuration but which for the purpose of illustration is rectangular and in the form of a rigid panel. Mounted on the base member 12 is three rows of wire rings in which each of the wire rings is identical and there is a long central row designated as row A, a shorter angular row designated as row B and a third row designated as row C which is shorter and disposed on the other side of row A from row B.

For purposes of description, each of the rings is mounted on the base member 12 by a vertical stem or mounting wire 14 having an eye 16 at the upper end thereof and having an enlarged head 18 at the bottom thereof underlying the base member 12. This will enable the supporting stems or wires 14 to move upwardly and downwardly through the base member 12 and also to angulate in relation to the base member 12 as illustrated in various figures of the drawings.

Row A of the wire rings has seven rings designated as ring 1 through 7 with ring No. 1 being remote from the junction with rows B and C. Row B has five rings designated 1 through 5 and Row C has four rings designated 1 through 4 with the No. 1 ring being at the outer end of the row in each instance. Thus, by providing a letter and numeral designation the particular ring may be 3,198,524 Patented Aug. 3, i965 ice determined. For example, ring B2 would be the second ring from the outer end of row B.

At the juncture of the rows of rings, a mounting stem 25 is provided which anchors rings A6, B5 and C4 to the mounting member 12 in that these three rings do not have a mounting stem 14. The mounting member 20 includes three eyes 22, 24 and 26 which engage the rings C4, B5 and A6 respectively with the eyes being disposed in a manner for effectively disposing the wire rings in position and this mounting member and the eyes extend upwardly through the wire ring A7 which has a portion overlying rings C4 and B5 and a portion of ring A6 overlies ring A7.

The slide is generally designated by numeral 28 and includes an elongated wire loop 3% having spaced parallel wire members interconnected by U-shaped end portions 32 and having a generally T-shaped handle forming portion 34 at the other end thereof for maneuvering the slide 28. The U-shaped end portion 32 is rounded to form a nose for ease of insertion through the rings and the spaced wire members forming the parallel sides of the slide enable the rings to be moved therethrough.

In order to operate the puzzle, the procedure begins with the slide 28 completely on row C with B5 and A7 above slide 28 (see FIGURE 1). In clearing row C, the person manipulating the slide should drop off rings C1 and C2, pull the slide back and drop off C4 ring. Push the slide through C3 ring and then put on C2 ring and C1 ring. Push slide through C2. Drop off Cl ring, pull the slide back and drop off C3 ring. Push the slide through C2 ring and replace C1 ring and then drop C2 ring off, then C1 ring oif thus clearing row C. Now proceed to Row B by pushing slide through ring B5, push slide forward and put on ring B1 and ring B2, push slide through 132, drop' ring B1 off and pull slide back and put on ring B3, push through ring B3 and B2 and put on ring B1, drop off ring B1 and ring B2, pull slide back, put on ring B4, push through ring B4 and B3 and put on ring. B1 and ring B2, push slide through B2, drop off ring B1, pull slide back and drop oif ring B3, push slide through ring B2, replace ring B1, then drop off ring B2 and ring B1, pull slide back and drop ring 135, push slide forward through ring B4 and replace ring B2 and B1, push slide through B2, drop ringBl and pull slide back and put on ring B3, push slide through ring B3 and B2 and put on ring B1, drop off ring B2 and ring B1, pull slide back and drop ring B4, push slide through ring B3 and put on ring B2 and ring B1, push slide through B2, drop ring B1, pull slide back and drop ring B3, push slide forward through ring B2 and put on ring Bl, drop ring B2 and B1, clearing row B.

Now begin on Row A by dropping off ring A7, push slide through ring A6 and forward to ringAZ and ring A1, put ring A1 and ring A2 on, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and put on ring A3, push slide forward through ring A2 and A3 and put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull side back and put on ring A4, push slide forward through A4 and A3, put on ring All and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and drop ofi A3, push slide forward through A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull slide back and put on ring A5, push slide forward through ring A5 and A4, put on ring A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and put on ring A3, push slide forward through ring A3 and A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull slide back and drop off ring A4, push slide forward through ring A3, put on ring A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop ofi ring A1, pull slide back and drop off ring A3, push slide forward through ring A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and 3 ring A2, pull slide back and drop oif ring A6, push slide forward through ring A5, put on ring A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and put on ring A3, push slide forward through ring A3 and A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull slide back and put on ring A4, push slide forward through ring A4 and A3, put on n'ng A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and drop off ring A3, push slide forward through ring A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull slide back and drop olf ring A5, push slide forward through ring A4, put on ring A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop off ring A1, pull slide back and put on ring A3, push slide forward through ring A3 and A2, put on ring A1, drop off ring A1 and ring A2, pull slide back and drop off ring A4, push slide forward through ring A3, put on ring A1 and ring A2, push slide through A2, drop oif ring A1, pull slide back and drop off ring A3 push slide forward through ring A2, put, on ring A1, and drop off ring A1 and ring A2, thus clearing the final row, row A.

By following the manipulative steps set forth supra, it will be appreciated that, in order to remove the slide completely from the base mounted members, the slide must first be completely disengaged from all the C- rings, next completely engaged with all of the B-rings and subsequently disengaged from the B-rings. Then, the slide must be engaged with only rings A1 through A6, ring A7 being dropped through the slide before the engagement of rings A1 through A6, and finally, disengaging rings A1 through A6.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur'to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A puzzle comprising a base, a plurality of rows of rings, said rows being disposed with one end of each row adjacent the corresponding ends of the other rows, said rows diverging from each other, an elongated mounting member, said member having one end secured to the base, means pivotally locking the rings on the adjacent ends of said rows to the mounting member in spaced relation along the length of the mounting member so as to provide a lower ring, an upper ring, and at least one intermediate ring, a mounting stem associated with each of the remaining rings, each stem having its associated ring pivoted to one end thereof, each stem projecting through the next ring inwardly toward the adjacent ends and into sliding engagement with the base member for movement of its associated ring toward and away from the base, and an elongated endless loop type slide engageable about the mounting member between the base and the lower end ring immediately thereabove, said slide being of a size receivable through the rings and capable of receiving the rings therethrough, said slide being manipulatable and selectively engageable and disengageable with the rings and stems in each row so as to effect a systematic movement of the slide upwardly along the mounting member until completely disengaged from the mounting member, the rings, and the stems.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 including a final ring encircling the mounting member immediately below the upper ring pivotally locked thereto, said final ring having a mounting stem to which it is pivotally mounted, said last mentioned stem being slidably engaged with the base, said slide, in its lowermost engaged position, surrounding both the mounting member and the last mentioned stem.

3. A puzzle comprising a base, first, second, and third rows of rings, one end of each of the rows being dis posed adjacent each other, said rows diverging outwardly from each other, an elongated mounting member fixed to the base and projecting thereabove, said mounting member, progressively along the length thereof outward from the base, first pivotally mounting the inner ring of the first row, next pivotally mounting the inner ring of the second row, next extending through the inner ring of the third row,'and finally pivotally mounting the ring adjacent to the inner ring of the third row, a mounting stem pivotally mounting each unmounted ring, these stems each projecting through the next inwardly positioned ring in the corresponding row and being slidably secured to the base, and. an elongated endless loop type slide engageable about the mounting member and third row inner ring stem between the baseand the inner ring of the first row, said slide being manipulatable and selectively engageable and disengageable with the rings and stemsin each row so as to effect a systematic movement of the slide outward along the mounting member until completely disengaged from the mounting member, the rings, and the stems.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,998,253 8/61 Kranzusch 273-158 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,840 1907 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

LEONARD W. VARNER, Examiner. 

1. A PUZZLE COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF RINGS, SAID ROWS BEING DISPOSED WITH ONE END OF EACH ROW ADJACENT THE CORRESPONDING ENDS OF THE OTHER ROWS, SAID ROWS DIVERGING FROM EACH OTHER, AN ELONGATED MOUNTING MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING ONE END SECURED TO THE BASE, MEANS PIVOTALLY LOCKING THE RINGS ON THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID ROWS TO THE MOUNTING MEMBER IN SPACED RELATION ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE MOUNTING MEMBER SO AS TO PROVIDE A LOWER RING, AN UPPER RING, AND AT LEAST ONE INTERMEDIATE RING, A MOUNTING STEM ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE REMAINING RINGS, EACH STEM HAVING ITS ASSOCIATED RING PIVOTED TO ONE END THEREOF, EACH STEM PROJECTING THROUGH THE NEXT RING INWARDLY TOWARD THE ADJACENT ENDS AND INTO SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BASE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT OF ITS ASSOCIATED RING TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BASE, AND AN ELONGATED ENDLESS LOOP TYPE SLIDE ENGAGEABLE ABOUT THE MOUNTING MEMBER BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE LOWER END RING IMMEDIATELY THEREABOVE, SAID SLIDE BEING OF A SIZE RECEIVABLE THROUGH THE RINGS AND CAPABLE OF RECEIVING THE RINGS THERETHROUGH, SAID SLIDE BEING MANIPULATABLE AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE WITH THE RINGS AND STEMS IN EACH ROW SO AS TO EFFECT A SYSMETATIC MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE UPWARDLY ALONG THE MOUNTING MEMBER UNTIL COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE MOUNTING MEMBER, THE RINGS, AND THE STEMS. 